Telephone toll apparatus.



" 0. 315,107. PATENTE'D'MAR; 1-3, 1906.

G. A. LONG.

TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS. APPLIOATION rim) MAR.11,v1 903. 5

v To alzllwhmn it may concern:

I .UMNITED" sTAT s PA NT E;

GEORGE A. LON OF HART O'RD, OONNEOTIOUT, AssIeNoa'rO THE GRAY TELEPHONE PAY v STATION COMPANY, or A CORPORATION OF I CONNECTICUT.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,

TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS.

, Be itknownthat I, GEORGE A. LoNo,'acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford. and State of Connecticut,"have invented certain newhand useful Improvements :in TelephoneToll Apparatus, of which the following is a speci- The object ofmyinvention is'to provide a toll-collecting apparatus which may be used in connection with automatic telephone systems. A form .of device ,bythe use of which this object may be attained is illu's-' trated' in the accompanying drawings, in

which v [Fi ure 1 isa view in front elevation of a telep one set embodying the automatic system and showing. my toll-collecting device Fig. 2 is a view in section' plied thereto.

a t ough the casin containing the toll-collecting devices wit the parts in normalipo-.

sition of rest andshowing a coin as it first engages the parts. 'Fig. '3 is a like'view s'howmg the parts in position for use of the .tele

phone -and witha com in position 'ust before ,it released from the plunger.

known to those faml art of the casing, s owing the mechanism or releasing the coin bythe'pressure of the call-button. 1 I f ,The automatic tele hone system, as is well iar wit the art, is aufltomaticlinthe'. sense that each subscriber ism at his own instrument,'thus obviatin 1 make connections.

mayv make connection with any'fother subscr ber by .the manipulationlof the mechan the necessity of. aving central operators'to Such a telephone instrumenta s illustrated in they drawings comprises a box. 1 containin the telcp one instrument having .callbe ls 2., a transmitter 3, a receiver 4, a switchlever 5, and .a connection-dial 6. A sub.- soriber wishing to call a certain number ma- .nipulates the connection-dial 6 to connect his instrument with the line in whi'oh'the other i turned to the switch-lever.

instrument. is :connected. This being done,

. "he can tell by'placingthe receiver to his ear whether or notithatfline is in use. If he finds it s not in use, he pressesvthe call button 7, s the bells at the'instrument being called. f the'line is in-use, the receiver is re-'- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 11,1903. Serial'No. 147,2 0.

use with automatic systems it is essential that it be of such from as to be readily applied without requiring any special construction or arrangement of the telephone instrument that the requirement imposed for the use of the'instrument shall be complied with before quirement is the depositing of a token or coin;

it is necessary to provide for the return of the coin to the user in 'case the desired connec tion cannot be had. If the telephone is used then'theremust be provided a means for al- Iriadapting a tollcollecting apparatus for- Patentea March 13, 1906. l:

'- suchuse'can be had. Assuming that this re lowing the coin or token' to be finally deposvide acasing 8,' attached to the instrument,

so that theswitch-lever passes through a slot 13 in it, which is of sufficient length tO-permit the necessary movement of the lever. When the instrument is not in use, in which case the. parts occupy what may be termed their normal 'osrtions, the receiver is carried by the switcli lever', which is in its lowest position. {One leg 17 of a slotted-lockingelever 14, which is ivote'd in the casing 8,'closes the slot 13 in the casing, and its lower end in the casing. Projecting into the-coinchannel 10- opposite to the leg 18. is a plunger with-a push-button 11, which is l2, conneote outside't'h'e casing and held in position by a spring 36, so that the distance between the P coin when it drops down the-guide 10. A

slot 26 through thecasing communicateswith the coin-guide. A-spring,25 holds the locking-lever 14 in its normal position with the leg 18 in the coin-guide and the leg 17 covering the slot 13 and verlying the switchleyer 5. This position 0 the arts is seen in Fig. 2. Let a coin be dropper into the chan- I ne 10, Where it will assume a position be- I I be such as to do so incioverlies the switch-lever, lockingit against g upward movement even though the receiver be removed. The other leg '18 of the lookingi ilev'er 14 pro ects1nto a coin channel or gm unger and the leg '18 is such as to retain a r operativeposition.

30 the spring 32.

5 lower end of the casing.

tween the plunger 12 and the leg 18. l/Vhen the push-button is pressed in, the coin communicates the motion to the lockinglever 14, throwing it to the right to the position shown 5 in Fig. 3, where it is held in position by a latch-lever 34, pivoted in the casing and having a latch 33, which engages the catch on the locking-lever 14. If the receiver is now removed from the hook, the switch-hook. le-

10 ver is free to move up to its highest point.

which projects through a slot 31 in the plate 23, which forms a side of the channel, into the guide. This deter-1t is carried by a lever 29, )ivoted in the lower part of the casing and aving its opposite end-connected with the call-button 7 in such manner that it is moved whenever the call button is ressed, thus throwing the detent to the eft from the position in which it is seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and in which position it is normally held by The parts being in the positions shown in Fig. 3, except the plunger and the coin, and assuming that the push-button 11 isreleased and the plunger retracted, allowing the coin to drop to the position shown 3 5 in dotted lines in this figure, the user, if he finds that the line is 0 en, presses the callbutton 7 to rin the be 1 at the other instru ment. As has een seen, this pressure of the button 7- rnoves one end of the lever 29,

4o throwing, the detent 30 to the left, and the coin, which has been rested between the dctent and the rear wall. of the channel, is released and falls through the coin-deposit outlet into the money-drawer 9, provided at the l owever, if after pressing the push-button 11 and releasing the switch-hook lever 5 and dropping the coin onto the detent 30 the user finds that the line he wants is in use he hangs the receiver on the switch-lever, causing it to move downwardly to its normal position. During this downward movement of the lever it strikes the cam 35 of the latchlever 34 and disengages the latch 33 from thc catch 15 on the locking-lever 14 and the spring 25 draws the locking-lever 14 back to normal position. The locking-lever 14 carries a finger 20, projecting downwardly from the leg 18, as shown, and having an inturned end 21 working in a slot 22 in the plate 23 at the point The where the coin rests on the detent 30.

int-urned end 21. moving quickly with the locking-lever 14 under the influence of the spring 25 strikes the coin and throws it over t 10 detent 30 out of the coinreturn outlet 27 into the clip 28, where it may be recovered by the user.

To briefly describe the complete operation of the apparatus, the user first deposits the coin, which falls to rest between the plunger 12 and leg 18 of the lockiug-lever 14. llc then presses the push-button 11, throwing the locking-lever to the right, releasing the switch-lever, so that it rises to the position shown in Fig. 3, the latch 33 engaging the catch 15 to hold the locking-lever in this position. T he push-button is released and the plunger retracted, allowing the coin to drop onto the detent 30. The connection-dial is now manipulated, and when the proper connectionis made the user can tell by placing the receiver to his ear whether or not the dc sired wire is busy. If the wire is open, the call-button 7 is pressed, throwing the. detent out of tl'ic'way of the coin and allowing it to fall into the box. If the wire is busy, the re ceiver is hung on the s\-'itcl1-leve1', drawing it down, during which movement it. disengagcs the latch 33 from the catch 15, and the spring quickly returns the locking-lever to its normal position, the end 21 of the finger 20 throwing the coin out into the clip 28.

It will thus be seen that in order to use my toll apparatus with automatic telephone in struments there are but two things the user must do in addition to what is essential to be done in order to use the instrument-one is the depositing of the coin and the other is the pressing of the push-button. All the other things necessary to be done, either depositing the coin finally or returning it to the user, are accomplished by the ordinary use of the instrument.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a telephone instrument including a receiver, a switch-lever and a transmitter, means for locking said lever in its lower )osition, a coin-channel appurtenant to said looking means, a plunger extendinginto said coinchain'iel and adapted to actuate said locking means through the medium of a coin to unlock said lover, a device for arresting the coin as it drops after the said lever is released. a call -button operative by the calling sub scriber to notify the called party, and operative connections between said call-button and said arresting device whereby the operation of the former will move the latter to release and de )osit the coin.

2. In a teiephone toll apparatus the combination with a telephone instrument including a receiver, a transmitter, a switch-lever, a connection-dial and a signaling device under the control of the calling subscriber whereby the calling subscriber can make his own connection with the line desired and make the particular call desired on that line by means of the signaling device, of means for collecting a toll for the use of said instrument, said means including a casing having a coin-channel means'having a part projectinglnto said casing, for locking said switchlever inits lowposition 3 means forunlocking said lever through the medium of a coin; a device'for arresting said 'coin'as it drops after said lever is released; means connected with and operated by the signaling device for depositlng the com; and means controlled by the switch-lever for returning the coin when the signaling device is not operated, substan- -tially as described.

. 3. Ina telephone toll apparatus the combination with the instrument which includes a receiver, a switch-lever and a transmitter, a coin-channel having a coin-return and coindepositing outlet, locking means for said lever projecting into said channel, a plun er' -tprojecting into the channel opposite said esaid locking means whereby on t a of said plunger said switch-lever ver and forming therewith an obstruction to ton and'means connected therewithland a'c-' locked,

tuated thereby for passing the coin through the deliveryoutlet when the instrument is used, substantially as described.-

- .4. In a 't'elephone toll apparatus foruse with automatic telephoneinstruments, the

combination with said instrument which includes .a receiver, a switchde'ver normally' a transmitter, a signalingdevice, and a connection-dial, of a casing through" which said switch -lever extends, a coinchannel therein having a coin-depositing outlet,

means. for unlocking said lever through the medium of a coin, a detent projectin into said channel above said outlet and a a ted v toarrestsaid coin after said lever is unloc ed,

and'operative connections bet-iiveen' said detent and the signaling device t hereby u on operation of the latter thedetent is moved to open said coin depositin outlet.-

'5. In a telephone tolapparatusfor use with automatic, telephone -1nstruments, the

1 combination with, said instrument which in; 4

cludesa iec'eivena switch lever'normally looked, a transmitter, a signalin device, and a connection -dial, ofa casing, through which said switch-lever extends and means for un-. locking saidlever through the Imedium of a coin, a coin-channelgtherein, return and deposit outlets at the lower end of said coin-channel, a detent pmjectinAg' f abovefsaid return and e a a I ative connections between said detentand the g si aling device wherebyupon the operation;

I combinat into said channel posit outlets, opero the latter the detent re moved to open said depos t-outlet, and-.;, mechanism mounted in r I the casing and controlled by the 'switchdever for moving the coin to the return-outlet.

with-a telephone setinthe medium of the coin,

let and a coin-depositing outlet appurtenant to the coin-channel, a detent arranged to stop '0 erativelyi'arrangeci with re vice-for passing the eluding aswitch-lever and a signaling device both controlled at the same instrument, ,a'

coin-channel having a coin-retur'n-and coindepositing outlet, means-for retaining the coin in the channel, means forcontrolling the movement of the switch-lever adapted to guide the coin out of the coin-return outlet, and means connected with'the si naling device for passing the coin through the deposit ing-outlet-when the signal is actuated.

v 7. In combination with a telephone set including a switch-lever and a signaling device bothcontrolled atfthe same instrument, a coin-channel having a coin-return and a coindepositing outlet, a detent'for retaining the coin in ,the channel, means actuated by the switch-lever for forcing the coin over the detent into the coin-return outlet, and means connected with and operated by the signaling device for, removing the detent whereby the coin is allowed to passthrough the depositingoutlet.

8. In combination with a telephone. set

eluding a switch-lever and a signalingdevice adapted to be-manipulated by the operator at the same instrument, a coin-channel, a detent connected with the signaling device and adaptedfto-be removed from the path of the coin when said signaling deviceis actuated, and means connected withthe switch-lever for forcing the coin over the detent when-said lever is released to. assume its normal position. a

9. In combination in'atelephone set including a switch-lever and a signaling device der' the .,control .of the calling subscriber, a self contained toll collecting apparatus adapted to be a plied to said instrument and rovided witi a lock normally en agin and oeking the switch-lever, a coin-c anne op'eratlvely arranged with reference lever, means forunlocking the lever through acoin-returning outthe coin adjacent to said outlets, and a con- 'nection intermediate the detent'and' the signaling device-whereb the former is actuated by the movement 0 the latter, and means for discharging the coin into the return-outlet when the signaling device is not-operated;

10. In combination with cludin a switch-lever and a signaling device contro led by the calling subscriber, a self contained toll-collecting apparatus ada ted to be applied to said telephone set, at 10c lo- IOC and means for selecting. a call-number, all unto said a telephone set inl cated therein and normally engaging andlocking the switch-lever, a coin-channel, a com-returning and a-=co1n=de oslting outlet erence to said 6 ann'el, means operated by said lock, for movlng the coin transversely of the channel,

andgmeans connected with the si naling decoin through t e coin-de positing outlet when the signaling device is through the medium of a coin to unlock the lever, a coin-return and a coin-depositing outlet located appurtenant to said coin-chain nel, means for holding the lock disengaged from the switch-lever,coin-retaining means located in the channel above the return and depositing outlets and operatively connected with the signaling device for depositing the coin in the money-drawer when said signal device is actuated, said holding means cooperating with the switch-lever to engage the ibck and the lever on the subsequent movement of the latter, and means carried by said lock for moving the coin into the return-outlet when the desired connection is not obtained.

12. In combination with a telephone set in cluding a switch-lever and a signaling device controlled by the calling subscriber, a selfcontained toll-collectingapparatus adapted to be applied to said telephone set and comprising a lock normally engaging and locking the switch-lever, a coin-channel, coin-return and coin-depositing outlet-s operatively arranged with reference to said channel, means for'disengaging said lock from said lever, means connected with the si- ;naling device for passing the money through coin-deposit ing outlet when the signal device is actuated,.and means appurtenant t0 the switchlever and c utrolled thereby for throwing the coin into the coin-return outlet when the switch-lever is returned to locked position.

13. In combination with a telephone including a switchlever and a signaling device, both arranged to be actuated from the same instrument, a coin-channel, a plunger projecting into the channel, a lock for the switchlever, means for holding the lock disengaged from the switch-lever, said holding mezfns cooperating with the switch-lever to release it from an engaging position with reference to the look, a retaining device n eratively con nectcd with the signaling device and actuated thereby for controlling one movement of a coin deposited in the coin-channel, and an ejector connected with the lock and adapted to affect a second movement of the coin when the signal device has not been operated.

14. In combination with a telephone including a switch-lever and a signaling device, a coin-channel, a plunger projecting into the channel, a swinging lock normally interposed in the path 0 l' 1110' emcnt of the switch-lever, a leg on said lock cooperating with said plunger through the medium of a coin to unlock said switch-lever, a latch to engage the lufili located in the path of movement of the switchwhen the signal device is not actuated.

lever, and a detent located in the coin-channel, and adapted to arrest the coin after the switch-le 'er is unlocked, said dctent being I connected with the signaling device.

15. In combination with a telephone ineluding a switchlever, a signaling device and means for selecting a call connection, a self contained toll-collecting apparatus including a coin-channel ending in coin-returning an coin-depositing outlets, a detent arranged in the channel above said outlets, and connected with the signaling device whereby upon the operation of said signaling device said detent is moved to permit the coin to pass through the depositing-outlet, a lock nor- 8o mally interposed in the path of movement of the switch-lever means for actuating said lock including the coin, said actuating means arranged to vary the position of the coinwith reference to the coin-returning and coin- 8 depositing outlets whereby said coin Will fall against the detent, and means connected with the lock for throwing the coin from the detent into the coin-returning outlet when said lock assumes a normal locking position with reference to the switch-leiierl.

16. In combination with a telephone including a switch-lever and a signaling device, a coin-channel, a detent located in the coin channel and connected with the signaling de- 5 vice, a lock normally interposed in the path of movement of the switchdever, a finger secured to the lock to engage a coin located on the detent, means for exerting force on the lock, and a latch for holding the lock disen- 10o gaged from the switch-lever and operated by the latter in its movement.

17. In combination with a telephone instrument including a switch-lever, a signaling device and means for selecting a call connection, a self-contained toll-collecting apparatus adapted to be applied to said instrument and with the switch-lever passing therethrough, a coin-channel arran ed in said tollcollecting apparatus, a lock 101' said switchlever and releasing means therefor actuated through the medium of a coin, means for holding said lock out of engagement with said switch-lever, said means being actuated by the switch-lever to release said lock, a coin-returning and a coin-depositing outlet, a detent opera tivcly arranged with reference to said outlet and adapted to retain a coin, and a connection extending from said detent and connected with the signal-actuating device whereby the coin is released and passed to the depositing-outlet when the signal device is actuated, and means carried by said lock for throwing the coin out of the return-outlet I 25 1S. In combination with a telephone instrument including a switchdever, a signal device and means for selecting a call conncction, a self-contained toll-collecting apparatus adapted to be applied to said instrument I30 and. with the switch-levee passing therethrough, a coin-channel arranged in. said t0ll collectin r appara'ti s, a lock for said switchllever an releasing means therefor, actuated through the' medium of-a coin, means for I holding-said lock out of engagement with said switch-lever, said means being actuated by the switch-lever to release said look, a' coin-- returning outlet and a deposit-outlet, a detentoperatlvely' arranged wlth reference to said'outlets'and adapted to retain a coin, 'a

connection extending from said detent and connected with the .signal device whereby 'thecoin is released and passed to the moneydrawer .outlet'when the signal device is actuated, and an ejector .operatively' connected with the loclc and controlledin itsmovement by i the switch-lever whereby the "coin is passed through the coin retu'rning outlet whenever the signaling device is not actuated. a v

1 19 In conibil'iation with a'telephone in- V eluding a switch-lever,asignaling device and g a call-wire-selectlngapparatus, allactuated v 1 25 at the same instrument; ahodily-reinovable and complete toll-collecting apparatus ar-' ranged to' be applied to the side of said instrument with the switch-lever projecting therethrough, acoin-channel arranged in said t0ll-collecting apparatus and having a coinreturning outlet and acoin-depositing outlet,

a plun er and aloek projectinginto said channe and adapted, to be connected through the medium of the coin, said'lock noring device is notoperated. I v

- v I GEORGE A. LONG.v l/Yitnesses: v

ARTHUR B.JEI-IIKINS, ERMA P C FFRIN- 

